Mattel's American Girl debuts diabetes care kit for dolls

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When American Girl first launched in 1986, the company sold a small selection of dolls, designed to look like real girls. Each character had her own book series, wardrobe and a host of accessories, from beds to pets.

Recently, the Mattel-owned business started selling a new "accessory" — one a lot of kids can't live without: a diabetes care kit ($24).

Anja Busse displayed some of the supplies she uses daily to treat her Type I diabetes, along with her American Girl doll at her home in Antigo, Wisconsin. The company recently added diabetes supplies to mimic those used by the thousands of youngsters and adults nationwide after Busse and others created an online petition on change.org.Lisa Haefs / Antigo Daily Journal via AP, American Girl

According to the American Diabetes Association, approximately 1.25 million American children and adults have Type 1 diabetes, formerly known as juvenile diabetes. It's diagnosed in kids and young adults when their bodies don't produce enough insulin.

The American Girl diabetes care kit comes with everything a child with Type 1 diabetes would need: a blood-sugar monitor and lancing device, an insulin pump (that can be clipped to the doll's waist), an insulin pen, medical bracelet, glucose tablets, a log book and a case for all of these tools which can be decorated with stickers.

"I'm 11 and I just got diagnosed with diabetes a little over three months ago. I feel so different now and my whole life has been turned around. I want to have diabetic accessories for my American Girl doll so she is just like me," she wrote at the time.

"My granddaughter was three years old when she was diagnosed...This diabetes care kit will go a long way in helping her feel 'part of the gang,' by giving her an opportunity to talk about and teach others about her diabetes," one woman wrote in a product review.

The move follows Mattel's recent efforts to broaden its line of dolls and create empowering messages for kids. Earlier this week, its Barbie line celebrated "Sheroes" including ballerina Misty Copeland, actress Emmy Rossum and director Ava DuVernay. And in January, Mattel released three new body shapes for Barbie — curvy, tall and petite.